Bridge-based data transmission architecture, in particular for use in on-board avionics

Abstract

A data transmission architecture, in particular for use in on-board avionics is disclosed. The data transmission architecture includes at least one main data transmission network with integrated functional nodes for connecting a plurality of peripheral data transmission networks to the main network, in order to provide data transmission between the networks. The data transmission architecture also includes a direct connection of peripheral networks to one another so as to allow the transmission of data directly between the peripheral networks without passing through the main network. The main network includes a plurality of associated sub-networks.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A data transmission architecture for use in on-board avionics, comprising:
 at least one main data transmission network with integrated functional nodes for connecting a plurality of peripheral data transmission networks to the main network, in order to provide data transmission between the networks; and 
 a direct connection of the peripheral data transmission networks to one another so as to transmit data directly between the peripheral data transmission networks without passing through the main network, each of the peripheral data transmission networks being directly connected to the same main network, 
 wherein the main network includes a plurality of associated sub-networks, 
 wherein the main network is a looped network, and 
 wherein the main network and the peripheral data transmission networks include redundant data transmission supports forming at least two redundancy planes, the data transmission supports of different redundancy planes being completely redundant and independent from one another. 
 
     
     
       2. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the main network and/or the peripheral data transmission networks include switches. 
     
     
       3. The data transmission architecture according  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral data transmission networks are looped networks. 
     
     
       4. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral data transmission networks are star networks. 
     
     
       5. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one peripheral data transmission network assumes the form of a looped network for the unconditional transmission of messages from node to node, independently of those messages. 
     
     
       6. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one peripheral data transmission network assumes the form of a looped network for the conditional transmission of messages from node to node, dependent on those messages. 
     
     
       7. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data transmission networks are unidirectional. 
     
     
       8. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the data transmission networks are bidirectional. 
     
     
       9. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein the functional connecting nodes comprise an extraction/injection/monitoring capability for frames of and in the networks. 
     
     
       10. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 9 , wherein at least some of the functional nodes are programmable and wherein the frame extraction/injection/monitoring capability of the programmable node uses a programming database stored in a corresponding storage capability. 
     
     
       11. The data transmission architecture according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the functional nodes are programmable.